Sarajevo, June 20, 1996 (Press TWRA)

M. Steiner, PIC High
representative deputy described, in an interview to
tOslobodjenjev, the situation in Sarajevo, as follows:
t8.000 Serbs remained in these suburbs (Vogosca and Ilidza) and
have been exposed to terror during the last period. Already 12
families have left their homes while the majority of others is
preparing to go, as well. I am ashamed for I have promised
personally to Serbs living in Sarajevo they would keep their
positions. But I saw that two weeks after the transfer of the
authority one Serb physician lost his jobv, Steiner said. He also
added that robberies of private houses are taking place every day,
committed mostly by refugees who arrive in organized manners and
he considers as tunbelievable the explications that nothing can be
done to prevent thisv. tAll reports about what is going on are
regularly transmitted to the administration bodiesv, Steiner
informed, asking: t Why does President Izetbegovic keep silent ?v
tI am wondering why reis-ul-ulema Mustafa Ceric who is constantly
speaking about the return of refugees does not raise his voice
against such a situationv, Steiner stated, adding the strategy of
ethnical engineering is taking place in Sarajevo which would lead
to the establishment of monoethnical society. tI can not accept
the explanation that something is going on here for it had already
took place somewhere else. No one raises the voice against it. It
is very difficult to defend the right of Bosniaks to return in all
areas while the policy completely different to what they proclaim
are taking place daily in their capital. This policy leads to a
final division of BHv, Steiner said. (end) S.K.

Sarajevo, June 20, 1996 (Press TWRA)

Member of BH Presidency and
BH Federation Vice-President, Ejup Ganic started a procedure for
dismissal of Jadranko Prlic, BH Foreign Minister, Onasa reported,
according to reports close to BH Presidency. The reason for his
dismissal is the recent reconstruction of so-called Herzeg-Bosnia
government. Onasa also reports that President and Vice-President
of BH Federation, Zubak and Ganic, made on February 12, the
tgentlemen agreementv in which was settled HDZ BH would be given
the post of BH Foreign Minister in the government of BH Prime
Minister Muratovic if Herzeg-Bosnia government was annulled. The
reconstruction of tHerzeg-Bosniav government marked the violation
of the mentioned agreement.

Zagreb - tCroatian police poses the greatest problem to UNpolice forces in BH. Unfortunately, Dario Kordic has a big
influence on the creation of policy and we consider the
constitution of new Herzeg-Bosnia government as a negative factor
in the peace-processv, UN spokesman, Ivanko, stated on a press-
conference. Ivanko pointed out the importance of the extradition
of Kordic, Karadzic and Mladic to the Hague Court for they present
the main obstacle to the forthcoming elections in BH Federation.
tInternational community has also problems with Muslim side, for
SDA high officials frequently mention a muslim state, without
taking care of Croats and Serbsv, Ivanko stated, adding that
Serbia refuses to cooperate with ICTY while Croatia is more
cooperative, besides it is not yet sufficient. Ivanko hopes the
Republic of Croatia will use tits influence upon alleged Herzeg-
Bosnia in order to solve the all existing problemsv.

Paris - tReconstruction of so-called Herzeg-Bosnia governmentis opposed to the Dayton accord so France expects from Zagreb
authorities to undertake a decisive action towards BH Croats in
order to make them give up from their decisionv, spokesman of
French Foreign Ministry, J. Renoir stated, adding tbesides the
fact that the peace-accord recognizes the existence of three

ethnical groups it, however, foresees the two entities: BH
Federation and the Republic of Srpskav. (end) S.K.

Zagreb, Ankara, June 20, 1996 (Press TWRA)

Croatia and Turkey
signed agreement on military cooperation. During the two-day visit
of Croatia's top delegation to Turkey, the agreements on cultural,
scientific-technical and tourist cooperation are expected.

In the joint statement, presidents Tudjman and SuleymanDemirel pointed out excellent relations of the two states,"helping
the peace in all region". Besides the talks between the two
statesmen alone, two delegations also met. Croatia's delegation
includes Mate Granic (foreign and vice prime minister), Gojko
Susak (defence minister), gen. Zvonimir Crvenko (Croatian army
chief of staff), ambassador to Turkey Ivica Tomic, Tudjman's
foreign policy advisor Zeljko Matic and deputy foreign minister
(ex-ambassador to Ankara) Hidajet Biscevic. Biscevic is of Bosnian
origin, a Croat of Islamic religion (but atheist), successful
journalist in 80ies, author of a few books about the Middle East
(e.g. "In the Name of Allah", the impressions of Iran after the
1979 revolution), interviews with radical PLO leaders whose secret
bases were accessible to him, editor-in-chief of the "Vjesnik "
daily for a short time, has become the third man in Croatian
diplomacy hierarchy (after Granic and Ivan Simovic) mainly in
charge of relations with Islamic states. In a number of his public
speeches, Hido Biscevic blamed Bosnian authorities for Islamic
fundamentalism and unfair relation towards Croatia and Croats in B-
H.

Before he left for Ankara, Croatia's president Tudjman saidat the Zagreb airport Pleso: "Friendship with Turkey is important
to us because of our relation with B-H. Turkey actually represents
a power in international relations, it is a state with 65 million
of people playing an important part in today's world." Before
visit to Turkey, Croatia's defence minister Susak signed an
agreement on military cooperation with his Bulgarian counterpart
D. Pavlov saying it was not secret that Zagreb wanted to buy
Fagot, anti-armored missiles and might produce them cooperating
with Bulgarians. Pavlov said the agreement helped in security of
southeast Europe. Such agreements are easier to make for Croatia
since this week's lifting the UN arms embargo on ex-Yugoslavia,
which have no vital importance of e.g. a military pact. Yet, the
backers of such relation with Croatia are the circles in Sofia
which regard Serbia as the least close neighbour accepting the
axis with Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, Italy, EU, USA. The
opponent lobby is for close relations with Macedonia, Romania,
FRY, Greece and Russia.

On the arrival to Turkey yesterday, Tudjman laid wreaths andrecorded himself in e book of impressions at the mausoleum of the
founder of modern, secular Turkey, Mustafa Kemal-pasha Ata-Turk.
Visit to Ataturk's grave is a part of obligatory protocol for all
foreign delegations.The fact caused a slight uneasiness at the
visit of B-H president Izetbegovic to Turkey-Izetbegovic is not a
great supporter of Ataturk except for his credit in defence of
Turkey from Greek-Anglo-French-Armenian forces, his name is linked
to high illiteracy among the Turks (he abolished the existing and
introduced Latin alphabet at that time) enforcing the measures to
"europeanize" Turkey (obligatory hat, ban on covering for women,
killings the imams..) Yet, disarray about importance of Ataturk
has no impact on good relations of Sarajevo and Ankara, confirmed
lately when Demirel and Izetbegovic visited Mostar and agreed on
the joint reconstruction of the Old bridge and the town city
(Croatia which showed interest in Turkish-Croatian project, is
excluded as in 1993 its heavy artillery destroyed it). Tudjman
several times stressed Ataturk as positive "Europe -orientated
example" that should be a model for B-H Muslims." As the opposite
example, Tudjman alleges "fundamentalist influences" alluding to
Iran with which Zagreb has good political and economic relations:
some media claim that Iran, besides B-H, reinforced Croatian army
with modern equipment. During the stay Croatian president will
visit Efes and some other sites in Turkey, mainly related to the
Classical Greek period (Helenism) (end) A.S.

Zagreb, June 20, 1996 (Press TWRA)

"After winning the European
Football Championship in England, we will play against the USA in
the Basketball Tournament finals of the forthcoming Olympics in
Atlanta. So, we do not prepare for likely non-participation of
Croatia at the Olympics", answered Croatian prime minister Zlatko
Matesa to the question of the IDS delegate in Croatian parliament
Damir Kain. In his question Kain referred to the president of ICTY
A. Cassese's statement.

A. Cassese announced a likely demand of ICTY to IOC to boycotCroatia and FRY as those states refused to extradite the indicted
war criminals. (Belgrade refuses to hand over Mrksic and
Sljivancanin, Radic and suspect Serb criminals from B-H,
particularly Karadzic and Mladic; Zagreb acts in the same way in
case of suspect Croat criminals from B-H, specially Ivica Rajic
and Darijo Kordic). The boycott would mean ban on sport national
teams of Croatia and FRY to participate at the Olympics in the USA
this year, as Croatia could not take part at the sports
competitions during the sanctions imposed against Serbia and
Montenegro. (1992-94).

After recent talk with Croatian foreign minister Granic,Cassese said: "Official view of the Zagreb government is: 'We have
adopted the constitutional changes enabling extradition of the
indicted war criminals, but we regret that five of them are in
"Herzeg Bosnia", outside Croatia's territory'. We do not regard
such explanation as convincing enough." Cassese has already said
that such arguments of Zagreb are not valid regarding both the
impact that Croatian government has in "Herzeg Bosnia" and the
fact that some of the indicted including Darijo Kordic stay in
Croatia, either secretly or on occasional visits. Similar
situation is with Ivica Rajic as reported in Croatian papers. "We
read all the papers and also use other sources to get
information," says Cassese. He expressed regret that his idea to
boycott FRY at the Florence meeting was not supported, in case
that state continued to provide shelter and support to its own
criminals and those from Serb entity in B-H. It is not enough to
accuse some politicians and prevent them from candidating at the
elections, claims Cassese adding: "Karadzic will not candidate
himself but will propose his followers, back them and continue
with his so far policy through them."

Ban on participation for Yugoslav teams at the 1992 Olympicsin Barcelona were criticized not only by Belgrade but also by some
international dignitaries like the IOC president, a Catalonian
Juan Antonio Samaranch who holds that political reasons should not
limit the right for participation at the Olympics. President of
HOO (Croatian Olympic Committee) Antun Vrdoljak, a close associate
of F.Tudjman and Croatian government, had a similar view backing
participation of the athletes from Yugoslavia at the international
competitions. Vrdoljak was occasionaly criticized by Croatian
opposition as inappropriate for such a high Olympic duty for his
racist statements (e.g. "I know our guys who want to be football
players, actors, artists, basketball players, but none of them
would like to be a Negro" - that he issued in a discussion on the
US Basketball Professional NBA league with mainly black basketball
players. (end) A.S.

Sarajevo, Washington, June 19, 1996 (Press TWRA)

Committee to
Save B-H Children, founded early this year by the Schiller
Institute & Center for Peace Studies of Georgetown University,
covers three areas of activities on which the Committee chairman
(the former vice-premier (first post-communist) of Czechoslovakia
J. Miklosko (Bratislava) told TWRA: "The Committee comprises
politicians, scientists, artists, representatives of churches and
religious communities (e.g. Catholic Relief Service from
Baltimore) from all the world, even a professional rugby player
from Nebrasca. The goal of our campaign is to warn the public of
the needs of Bosnia's children and to achieve forgiveness of debt
at foreign investors which Bosnia inherited from ex-Yugoslavia.
(17% of total debt). It is absurd that B-H still has the same duty
after the aggression she suffered. We try via NGOs to pressure
govts. of the developed states, specially the USA to launch a new
"Marshall plan" for B-H - one can call it a Clinton plan, not to
make B-H a colony of IMF & the World Bank. We made the main effort
at our first stage in the USA, then Europe. We shall try to get
the aid from the rich states, and all will help if properly
explained the need to do so. We shall go on the world campaign to
achieve the goals - helping children, the debt forgiveness,
development of B-H, for which we hope, will not repeat naive
mistakes of other ex-communist states."

Last spring. delegations of the Committee visited Sarajevothree times. First two visits to B-H were preparatory when the
Committee prominent members (E. Fimmen & J. Miklosko, E. Fimmen &
P. Raimondi) talked with the officials of B-H authorities and NGOs
(political, economic, cultural, humanitarian). During the third
visit to Bosnia, the delegation of the Committee to Save Children
in B-H and the Schiller Institute included Elke Fimmen, Jozef
Miklosko, Theo W. Mitchell (former US Senator from South
Carolina), Benjamin Swan (Congressman from Massachusetts), Nihad
Dzinovic (chairman of the Bosnia Relief Organization in California
and member of National Advisory Board for Humanitarian Aid),
James Mann (former US Congressman from South Carolina), Paolo
Raimondi, Umberto Pascali (secretary of the International
Parliamentarians Against Genocide in Bosnia).

The Schiller Institute reported on the visit of thedelegation in its papers ("Neue Solidaritaet/ "Nouvelle
Solidarite"), and was widely covered in the weekly EIR ("Executive
Intelligence Review"). EIR No. 20 of 1996, (Vol 23) reported on
the visit, released Susan Welsh's report from the press conference
of the Committee in Washington (when the USA was called to launch
a new Marshall plan, this time to help Bosnia), a number of
interviews (with dignitaries of the religious communities - Ceric
of the Islamic, Kuharic, Puljic, Sudar of Catholic, Rosic of
Orthodox community, talks with the B-H presidency members Kljuic &
Pejanovic, Deputy Defence Minister H.Cengic & Spokesman of the
Ministry Nanic; officials of the leading party SDA Grbo & Genjac;
managing directors of the firm "Elektroprivreda", Bicakcic,
Sadikovic, Vejzagic, Hadrovic, Karamehmedovic; headquarters of
Bosniak charitable organization Merhamet - Kraikovic,
Becirbegovic, Fazlic, Traljic, also meeting delegations of
Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish charities - Caritas, Dobrotvor, La
Benevolencia, respectively). Also, reports on other meetings of
the Committee and the Schiller Institute delegation during its
stay in Sarajevo and while in Zagreb (with ex-Croatian foreign
minister and rector of Zagreb University, president of the
Victimology society, the "Libertas" movement and action for just
peace in B-H, Prof. Separovic and representatives of humanitarian
organization DESA-Dubrovnik Hansal and Primorac, director of the
Bjelave Orphanage, Zelic, director of the Institute for Public
Health, Smajkic, phone talk with prof. Finci (Jewish community
Sarajevo) visit to the School for Europe and talks with the
Malaysian govt. delegation) EIR reviews the reports of the
Sarajevo media on the visit of the Committee's delegation
(including thearguments of the Schiller Institute that lady
Thatcher was among those who permitted Serb aggression). (end)
A.S.